Serious questions must be asked of the Pakistani intelligence services following the attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team, Sajjad Karim, Conservative MEP and chairman of the European Parliament’s Friends of Pakistan Group, said today.

Mr Karim, who was in the lobby of the Taj Mahal hotel when gunmen attacked last November, said:

“The Mumbai attacks highlighted a failure of intelligence. A similar attack so soon after the last must surely raise questions about the state of Pakistan’s intelligence network.

“This attack must have been planned, and President Zardari must summon the head of the ISI to demand a full breakdown of events.

“Terrorists must not be allowed to turn Pakistan into a no-go area for foreigners, but ultimately only Pakistan itself can deal with this problem.”

“I will join with Saj in his criticisms of the Pakistani authorities” said Sir Robert, a former Minister for Sport. “For cricketers to be targeted in this way takes terrorist activities to a new low. Unless this is nipped in the bud now, international sport of any variety is under threat.”